Mirror sign and electric circuits therefor



Oct. 11, 1938. EN HOLM v 2,132,473

MIRROR SIGN AND ELECTRIC CIRCUITS THEREFOR Filed July 9, 1937 II II A23 I I T EI E INVENTOR Afar-man Enfiolm.

U M 4 ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 11, 1938 V 2,132,473 PATENT OFFICE lWIRROR SIGN AND ELECTRIC CIRCUITS THEREFOR Norman En Holm, New York, N. Y., assignor to Multi Vue Signs 00., Inc., a corporation of New York Application July 9, 1937, Serial No. 152,699

8 Claims.

This invention relates to mirror signs for ad- 7 vertising or the like of the type having a plurality of reflecting mirrors spaced apart from each other to produce multiple images of the 4 indicia comprising the sign.

An object of the invention is to provide a sign of the character described in which the multiple images 'appear to move and thereby produce new and novel effects not heretofore obtainable.

Another object is to provide a sign of improved construction in which multiple images.

are produced by a simple mechanism enclosed within the casing of the sign.

A further objectis to provide a sign in which the multiple moving images are brilliantly illuminated by means enclosed within the sign cas- Other objects and advantages will appear from ,the following specification, it being understood that modifications, variations and adaptations may be made withoutmdeparting from the invention hereinafter claimed.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a-front view of a sign embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2, Figure 1; 1

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 33, Figure l;

Figure 4is a sectional view showing the gimbal mounting for the rear mirror of the sign;

Figure 5 is a view of the commutator device used with the sign; and

Figure 6 is a'wiring diagramof the electrical circuits of the sign.

In the co-pending application filed July 9, 1937, Serial Number 152,698 is disclosed a sign of this general type in which the main feature of this invention, the movable mirror, is shown and disclosed. The instant application relates to a special form of oscillating mounting for such movable mirrors and represents a further modification of the basic invention, and while for I the sake of illustration a sign is herein described in which only one mirror is oscillated in the manner herein described, it will be obvious that both mirrors may be so oscillated, or that the mechanism and movement herein described may be combined with the mechanism and movement set forth in the aforesaid co-pending application to produce new and useful results and that many modifications can be made in the device herein disclosed without, however, avoiding the appended claims.

In Figure l the numeral denotes a front casing of any suitable material and construction which supports a transparent mirror II which may consist of a sheet of glass or other transparent material provided with a thin coator rear of glass 'mounted in or upon the rearcasing l9.

reflected light and sufliciently thin to enable one to see through the glass. This mirror is held in the casing by slots or grooves I3.

Immediately in the rear 'of mirror II but spaced a small distance therefromis the rear mirror I4 having on its rear face a thick silvered coating I which is not transparent to transmitted light. The indicia or advertising matter to be displayed by the sign to form movable multiple images-may consist of any desired lettering, picture or design, and is formed by removing the coating I5, leaving the plain glass I4 where the indicia is to appear. The spaces so made arethen coated (either on the front [4) if desired, with suitable transparent colors. This provides a translucent design on the rear mirror I4.

The mirror I4 is mounted in a gimbal frame generally denoted by the numeral l5a which has pivots IE on its vertical axis, and pivots IT on its horizontal axis, the latter being supported in the ends of the casing I l]. By this means, the mirror I4 is mounted in the casing in such a manner that it may be moved or wobbled in bothplanes. Obviously both mirrors can be provided with the gimbal frame if desired, such modifications as are necessary to so mount and move them being apparent to those skilled in the art.

To move mirror I4, any suitable means such as the pin 24 extending rearwardly and engaging the slotted disk 24a on the shaft I8u of motor I8 may be employed. The motor may be The motor may have external or internal gearing so that the gimbal frame I5a will be oscillated at any desired speed. The motor may be provided with supports 20 which brushes 2| which contact a disk 2I|a secured to motor shaft [8a, said disk having a conducting section 2Ib to distribute current to the lamps 22, 22a which illuminate the mirrors and which are enclosed by the casings Ill and "I9.

With the mirrors arranged as above set forth and with the design formed as described, light rays from the lamps 22,220; are directed through the translucent design on the rear mirror and reflected images will be produced of said design and an image will be produced of the design at a distance in front of the rear face of the front mirror I I which will be equal to the distance between the said rear faceof mirror II and the rear face of the rear mirror I l. That image will in turn produce an image appearing as far behind the rear face of mirror M as the first image is before the rear face of the mirror I4.

The second image will give rise to a further image by reflection from the mirrored rear surinsulatedly support face of the front mirror II and these images will be repeated and formed a multiple number of times directly behind one another and at a distance apart.

When the light rays from the lamps are projected through the rear mirror in this manner, part of said rays are transmitted through clear glass around the colored areas and therefore a greater illumination of the reflected images of the advertising design is produced and there will be attained a brilliantly lighted effect.

Such effects are old in the art where both mirrors have been stationary, the sign producing no illusion of motion and the lettering or other advertising being stationary. However, with the present invention, the motor l8 being in operation, the entire multiple image is apparently in motion and any given point thereof will move in a path approximating a spiral when lamps 22, 22a and motor l8 are in operation, giving rise to effects heretofore unobtainable and of such large variety and complexity that no attempt will be made to describe them here.

In order to still further vary the effect and increase the attention-arresting characteristics of the sign, a method of wiring same may be employed as shown in Figure 6. Here it will be seen that the wire 23 connects to one side of the main circuit, and the other lamp wire 23a connects to one of the brushes 2|. The other brush 2| connects to the main circuit. Thus the distributor disk 2la is in series with lamps 22, 22a, and conducting segment 2 lb thereon will (because the disk is mounted on motor shaft l8a.) conduct current to the lamps only when the gimbal frame I5 and mirror l4 thereon are in a certain position relative to mirror H, the display then goes dark, but the movement of mirror [4 continues. Having reached a second position, the circuit is completed andapparently the display has moved and shifted its position onmirror II.

By varying the number of segments 2lb various effects can be obtained, and obviously the disk 2| a can if desired be driven at different speeds to produce different results by merely mounting 'it on a separate shaft driven in timed relation to shaft l8a.

While the term translucent has been applied to the indicia or design on one of the mirrors, it will be understood that any suitable indicia or design may be employed, either translucent or opaque, and that such design may be applied wholly or partially on any of the surfaces of either of the mirrors or may be projected on the device from an outside source or reflected thereon. This Will be clearly understood by reference to the copending application, Serial No. 152,698 heretofore mentioned.

It will be understood that it is not necessary to have the light source within the casing 19 and that said casing with the two mirrors II, M and the mechanism for moving one or both of said mirrors, as heretofore described, comprised a complete sign of the class described adapted to reflect in multiple images any object either directly reflected thereby or the image of which is projected thereon.

For example, an object such as a bottle can be placed in front of the mirror H and illuminated in any suitable manner by lamps mounted outside the casing l9 and not forming any part of the sign unit per se. An image of the bottle will appear on front mirror -I I. This image is likewise formed on the rear mirror [4, and multiple reflected images are produced and said images move if one or both said mirrors are moved.

Another method of operating the device is to project indicia thereon from any suitable source such as a stereopticon, the primary image being on an ordinary film or slide. By this method, the projected image falls on the front mirror H and is reflected by the rear mirror M in the manner just described.

In either case mentioned above, all indicia can be omitted from the mirrors, or some indicia can be placed thereon, while other indicia are reflected or projected thereto, as just described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sign'of the class described, a sheet of transparent material having a translucent reflecting coating on one of its faces and forming a front mirror, a rear mirror, means including a gimbal mounting for said rear mirror, means connected to said mounting for moving same and said mirror therein, and means for illuminating said mirrors.

2. In a sign of the class described, a casing, a sheet of transparent material having a translucent reflecting coating on one of its faces and forming a front mirror, a rear mirror, means including a gimbal mounting for said rear mirror pivotally supported in said casing, means supported on said casing for moving said mounting and the mirror therein, .and means for illuminating said mirrors.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 including means in said casing for illuminating said mirrors.

4. In a sign of the class described having a casing, a mirror, a gimbal support for said mirror pivotally mounted on said casing and means for oscillating said support and the mirror thereon including a pin projecting from said support and a disk in slotted engagement with said pin.

5. In a sign of the class described, a pair of mirrors adapted to produce multiple reflections, means for moving one of said mirrors to cause said multiple reflections to traverse a curved path including a framework for said last mirror adapted to move about vertical and horizontal axes, and means for illuminating said mirrors.

6. In a sign of the class described, a pair of mirrors adapted to produce multiple reflections, meansfor moving one of said mirrors, a light source for illuminating said mirrors, and means controlled by said moving means for disabling said light source in predetermined cyclic sequence.

7. In a sign of the class described, a pair of mirrors adapted to produce multiple reflections, means for moving one of said mirrors including a motor having .a shaft, a circuit interrupter on said shaft, and a circuit including an electric lamp and a source of current in series with said interrupter whereby said mirrors may be intermittently illuminated by said lamp, one of said mirrors being illuminated whenever in a predetermined position.

8. In .a sign of the class described, a pair of mirrors adapted to produce multiple reflections, means including a framework adapted to oscillate about two axes for supporting said mirrors, means for oscillating said framework, and means for illuminating said mirrors.

NORMAN EN HOLM. 

